One of Princess Margaret's grandsons, Arthur Chatto, rarely grabs the headlines despite being a great-nephew of the late Queen. Among his many achievements, Arthur has made a name for himself through his love of physical pursuits and charitable endeavors. Recently, Arthur joined his family at national events for the Platinum Jubilee and the late Queen's funeral.
He was photographed wearing his Royal Marines uniform on both occasions. Upon successfully completing the grueling Royal Marines training, Arthur will become the first member of the royal family to qualify with the regiment.
An article from October 25th, 2020, reported that Prince Harry had faced accusations from a top general of turning his back on the Royal Marines after stepping down from his military roles in March. This move was seen as a snub to the armed forces, and it led to Harry being stripped of his military titles, including Commodore and Chief of Ships and Diving, as well as Honorary Air Commandant of RAF Honington in February 2021. This decision came after Harry and the Duchess of Sussex announced their plans to step back from their working royal roles the previous year.
In a statement marking the 358th anniversary of the Royal Marines, King Charles expressed his pride in becoming its ceremonial head. He took over the Captain General role of the Royal Marines from Prince Harry. Sources indicated that the late Queen had been searching for a replacement for Harry's position within the Royal Marines, and Arthur emerged as the leading candidate for this noble role.
Arthur's decision to join the Royal Marines last year followed in the footsteps of his mother's cousin, Prince Edward, who left the grueling course four months after joining in 1986. Once Arthur successfully completes the intensive Commando training, he will be the first member of the royal family to join the Royal Marines. He informed his great-aunt, the late Queen, of his plans, and she was reportedly pleased and proud. Prince Edward has also been very supportive of his decision.
While Arthur will be the first Royal Marine in the family, other members of the royal family have a rich history of military service. Prince William served in the Royal Navy, Royal Air Force, and British Army, while Prince Harry saw active duty in Afghanistan during his time in the Army. Other royals who have served include King Charles in the Royal Navy and the Royal Air Force, Prince Andrew in the Royal Navy, Prince Philip in the Royal Navy, and even the late Queen, who served as a mechanic during World War II and was a member of the Auxiliary Territorial Service.
Arthur, who attended Westminster Cathedral Choir School, Eton College, and the University of Edinburgh, has earned his reputation through his involvement in various physical pursuits. He once shared his success with his 222,000 Instagram followers before deleting his account two years ago. Arthur and his team broke two world records during the GB Row Under Tower Bridge, becoming the youngest team ever to achieve this feat, completing it in 42 days, 8 hours, 23 minutes, and 16 seconds, a remarkable accomplishment that brought a sense of fulfillment.
